Bemidji, Minn. (Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center) -- The Bemidji State University tennis team dropped its season-opener to St. Mary's University (Minn.), 7-2, Saturday at the Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center.

The Cardinals took a commanding lead in the meet gaining points in all three doubles matches. However, the Beavers didn't go down easily. SMU's pair of Grace Zachman and Kirsten Hoffmann needed a tie-breaker to defeat Bemidji State's Caley Westin (So., Virginia, Minn.) and Meg Hafdahl (Sr., Virginia, Minn.) 9-8 (7-2).

Westin also faired well in singles play. The co-captain battled back from a first-set loss (6-2) to win the second set, 7-5, and earn a singles points with a 10-8 tiebreak victory over Lindsey Reinisch in the No. 1 singles spot (2-6, 7-5, 10-4). BSU got its other singles point in the No. 4 singles slot. Nicci Hedtke (Fr., Nisswa, Minn.) earned a straight-sets victory over SMU's Rachel Luetmer in her collegiate debut.

The Beavers continue their 2013 campaign tomorrow when they travel east to Duluth, Minn. to lift the lid in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) portion of their season versus University of Minnesota Duluth at 10 a.m.

For more information on the Bemidji State ice hockey programs, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).